Charity appeals to business for expertise

A Harrogate charity which supports young, disabled adults is appealing to the business community to help it unlock a major government grant worth tens of thousands of pounds.

In order to secure Cabinet Office funding, Disability Action Yorkshire – whose headquarters and training centre are at Hornbeam Park – has to identify a local business or businesses that can offer it key advice as it moves to implement fundamental changes to its operation.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, said: “As an organisation we are looking at changing the way operate, and, in particular, expanding and personalising the services we offer young, disabled people in the Harrogate district.

“However, to have any chance of success, we need to show we are working with a business or businesses that can help us deliver these key aims.”

The areas Disability Action Yorkshire is looking for support in are:

l Change management

l Research

l Finding creative solutions

l IT solutions

l Quality assurance and effective monitoring

Mrs Snape added: “Sadly, we can’t offer payment for the advice, but we can offer the opportunity to be part of a change which will lead to young, physically disabled people making informed choices about how they want to live and how to access the things they need to live that life.”

She added: “One initiative we are keen to introduce is a ‘buddying’ scheme, which will enable disabled people to access the things they want to do, such as socialising.

“We always need volunteers, and, in addition to ‘buddies’, we are looking for people to help us with research, IT, change management and quality assurance and effective monitoring.